Calico Hills - 3.9 Miles Round-Trip

The Calico Hills are among the most colorful and interesting geological features in Red Rock Canyon. These distinct crimson hills began as red sand dunes over 180M years ago, the remains of a dune field thought one of the largest to ever form on earth.

Over time, underground water moving through the dune field carried away much of the original color but left behind calcium carbonate, which cemented the sand. The dunes were then compressed and lithified under the weight of overlying deposits that would eventually erode away.

Today the Calico Hills attract thousands of climbers each year to hundreds of designated routes - part of what makes Red Rock Canyon one of the Top 5 climbing destinations in the country.

The Calico Hills Trail runs along the base of the hills, from Calico I Trailhead to Sandstone Quarry. While interesting in full, most visitors quickly leave the trail and improvise across the rock complex:

The trail dips from the parking area to an escarpment and splits: the right fork climbs steeply to a high bench that parallels the heart of the Calicos for some time, while the official trail veers left and remains low before gradually rising into them.

The right fork offers immediate access to stunning slickrock, however if intending to hike the entire trail, this option eventually 'cliffs out', and you'll need to improvise or backtrack. It's a worthwhile detour, and adds only nominal distance and difficulty.

The main trail undulates steeply across sand and slickrock to a spur for the Calico II Trailhead (.9 miles : 3,995'). It continues along a scenic wash lined by pinyon and juniper (1.1 miles), then rises sharply above to the northern terminus at Sandstone Quarry (1.95 miles : 4,298').

Rock Climbingin Red Rock Canyon

There are over 2000 designated climbing routes in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, which includes two wilderness areas: The Rainbow Mountain Wilderness and La Madre Mountain Wilderness. New, bolted, fixed anchors and/or protection bolts cannot be installed in either area.

Routes in Red Rock Canyon are rated via the Yosemite Decimal System. All class V routes (those involving the use of protection) range from 5.0 (easiest) to 5.14 (most difficult).

Bolting is legal along Calico 1 & 2, but should only be done after consulting the climbing staff.

Sandstone can become brittle after rain and should not be climbed for at least 24 hours after storms. Anchors and weight-bearing instruments are susceptible to cracks and break-offs. Climbers should seek out limestone crags as an alternative after storms.

Worth Noting

The 2006 Scenic Fire: A lightning-induced fire on September 6, 2006 burned 1600 acres of desert scrub in Red Rock Canyon. Yucca and creosote can re-sprout after fire, however blackbrush and ephedra were planted by the BLM to facilitate recovery and restore critical habitat for tortoise, rabbits and burros.

The lower desert still appears sparse, but wildflowers and brush have begun to reclaim replenished soils along the trail. Beavertail, hedgehog and globe mallow are notably abundant.

Late Exit Permits (LE) provide an extra two hours for climbers after the closure of Scenic Drive. These permits are issued for multi-pitch routes and are only available for: Ice Box Canyon, Juniper Canyon, Pine Creek Canyon, Oak Creek Canyon and Angel Food Wall.